Article support construction



Dec. 16, 1969 c. o. LARSON 3,484,069

ARTICLE SUPPORT CONSTRUCT ION Filed Feb. 7, 1968 B 44 3W ATTOISNZZSZ 74 I NVENT OR. CHARL E5 0. LARSON United States Patent 3,484,069 ARTTCLE SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION Charles 0. Larson, Sterling, 111., assignor to Chas. 0. Larson (10., Sterling, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 703,781 Int. Cl. A47f /00 US. Cl. 248225 5 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE The article support construction is for use on a apertured panel and comprises a base, a plurality of mounting prongs, each including a rearwardly extending first finger on the upper edge of the base and an upwardly extending second finger on the rear end of the first finger and disposed approximately normal thereto, each of the mounting prongs being spaced from an adjacent mounting prong by a distance equal to the distance between two holes in the apertured panel in a row, a hinge member connected to the base and having a horizontally extending bearing therethrough, and a hanger including a hinge rod pivotally supported by the bearing, a pair of elongated abutment members depending downwardly from the respective ends of the hinge rod, and a pair of forwardly directed arms on the respective lower ends of the abutment members, the abutment members limiting downward movement of the arms, and the hinge rod being pivotable to permit upward pivoting of the arms, the first and second fingers cooperating to mount the hanger on the apertured panel in cantilever fashion.

This invention is directed to article support constructions for use on an apertured panel and more particularly to article support constructions having hingedly mounted hangers thereon.

It is an important object of this invention to provide improved article support constructions having hingedly mounted hangers thereon for use on an apertured panel.

In summary, the article support construction incorporating the features of the invention is for use on an upstanding apertured panel having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, the article support construction comprising a base having substantially flat front and rear surfaces, a plurality of mounting prongs each including a rearwardly extending first finger on the upper edge of the base and an upwardly extending second finger on the rear end of the first finger and disposed approximately normal thereto, each of the mounting prongs being spaced from an adjacent mounting prong by a distance equal to the distance between two holes in the apertured panel in a row, a hinge member having a bearing thereon extending generally horizontally in use, the hinge member being connected to the front surface of the base, and a hanger including a hinge rod pivotally supported by the bearing, a pair of elongated abutment members depending downwardly from the respective ends of the hinge rod, and a pair of forwardly directed arms on the respective lower ends of the abutment members, the abutment members bearing against the front surface of the base to limit the downward movement of the arms, the hinged rod being pivotable with respect to the hinge member to permit upward pivoting of the arms, the rear surface of the base bearing in use against the front surface of the apertured panel, the first fingers having lengths approximately equal to the thickness of the apertured panel and engaging in use in associated holes in the apertured panel to support the base thereon, the second fingers bearing in use against the rear surface of the apertured panel, thereby to mount the hanger on the apertured panel in cantilever fashion.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the article support construction whereby the above outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an article support construction incorporating the features of the invention and illustrating a fragmentary view of an associated apertured panel in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section of the article support construction of FIG. 1 along the lines 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the article support construction; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the article support construction of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown an article support construction 15 for use on an apertured panel 10, the apertured panel being shown in phantom and having therein a plurality of holes 11 arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns. The article support construction 15 comprises a base 16 stamped from a unitary metal sheet, the base 16 having a substantially fiat front surface 17 and a substantially flat rear surface 18. There are provided four mounting prongs 20, each including a rearwardly extending first finger 21 joined to the upper edge of the base 16 and an upwardly extending second finger 22 on the rear end of the first finger 21 and disposed approximately normal thereto. The mounting prongs 20 are spaced from one another by distances equal to the distance between two apertured panel holes 11 in a horizontal row. Each of the first fingers 21 has a length approximately equal to the thickness of the apertured panel 10 and engages in an associated apertured panel hole 11 to support the rear surface 18 of the base 16 against the front surface of the apertured panel 10. Each of the second fingers 22 bears against the rear surface of the apertured panel 10, thereby to mount the hanger 40 on the apertured panel 10 in cantilever fashion.

Four stabilizing prongs 25 are joined to the lower edge of the base 16, each of the stabilizing prongs 25 extending rearwardly from the base 16 and being vertically aligned with the associated first fingers 21 and spaced therefrom by a distance equal to the distance between two apertured panel holes 11 in a vertical column. The stabilizing prongs 25 engage in associated holes in the aper tured panel 10 to orient and provide additional support for the article support construction 15.

The article support construction 15 further comprises a hinge member having a horizontally elongated central portion 31 which is U-shaped in vertical cross-section and cooperates with the base 16 to define a horizontally extending opening or hearing 32 therebetween. The hinge member 30 further includes a pair of attachment flanges 33 lying in a plane parallel to the base 16 and respectively integrally joined to opposing edges of the central portion 31, the central portion 31 and the attachment flanges 33 being formed from a unitary metal sheet. Each of the attachment flanges 33 has a hole 34 therein, the attachment flanges 33 being connected to the front surface 17 of the base 16 by dropping through the holes 34 hot metal which flows between the abutting surfaces of the attachment flanges 33 and the base 16, a round head 35 being formed over the holes 34 to give the article support construction 15 an attractive appearance.

The article support construction 15 further comprises a hanger including a hinge rod 41 extending through the opening 32 and supported by the base 16 and the hinge member for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of the hinge rod 41. The hanger also includes a pair of elongated abutment members 42 on the respective ends of the hinge rod 41 and having the axes thereof disposed parallel to each other and normal to the axis of the hinge rod 41. The hanger 40 further includes a pair of normally forwardly directed arms 43 on the respective lower ends of the abutment members 42 and having the axes thereof parallel to each other and normal to the axis of the associated abutment member 42. The hanger 40 finally includes a pair of normally upwardly and forwardly directed retaining members on the forward ends of the respective arms 43 to prevent an article from falling off of the hanger 40. A unitary rod is bent to form the hinge rod 41, the abutment members 42, the arms 43 and the retaining members 44. In an operating position of the hanger 40, the abutment members 42 bear against the front surface 17 of the base 16 to limit the downward movement of the arms 43 to cause the arms 43 to extend forwardly. In this position, the arms 43 are adapted to, for example, support one portion of an article thereon, with another portion of the article extending downwardly and between the arms 43. The hinge rod 41 is pivotable with respect to the hinge member 30 to permit upward pivoting of the arms 43 to a storage position wherein the arms 43 extend approximately parallel to the base 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is shown a further article support construction comprising a base 51 stamped from a unitary metal sheet, the base 51 having a substantially fiat front surface 52 and a substantially flat rear surface 53. There are provided four mounting prongs 55, each including a rearwardly extending first finger 56, joined to the upper edge of the base 51 and an upwardly extending second finger 57, on the rear end of the first finger 56 and disposed approximately normal thereto. The mounting prongs 55 are spaced from one another by distances equal to the distance between two apertured panel holes 11 in a horizontal row. Each of the first fingers 56 has a length approximately equal to the thickness of the apertured panel 10 and engages in an associated apertured panel hole 11 to support the rear surface 53 of the base 51 against the front surface of the apertured panel 10. Each of the second fingers 57 bears against the rear surface of the apertured panel 10, thereby to mount the hanger 70 on the apertured panel 10 in cantilever fashion.

The article support construction further comprises a hinge member 60 having a horizontally elongated central portion 61 which is U-shaped in vertical cross-section and co-operates with the base 51 to define a horizontally extending opening or bearing 62 therebetween. The hinge member 60 further includes a pair of attachment flanges 63 lying in a plane parallel to the base 51 and respectively integrally joined to opposing ones of the edges of the central portion 61, the central portion 61 and the attachment flanges 63 being formed from a unitary metal sheet. Each of the attachment flanges 63 have a hole (not shown) therein, the attachment flanges 63 being connected to the front surface 52 of the base 51 by dropping through the holes hot metal which flows between the abutting surfaces of the attachment flanges 63 and the base 51, a round head 64 being formed over the holes to give the article support construction 50 an attractive appearance.

The article support construction 50 further comprises a hanger 70 including a hinge rod 71 extending through the opening 62 and supported by the base 51 and the hinge member 60 for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of the hinge rod 71. The hanger 70 also includes a pair of elongated abutment members 72 on the respective ends of the hinge rod 71 and having the axes thereof disposed parallel to each other and normal to the axis of the hinge rod 71. The hanger 70 further includes a pair of normally forwardly directed arms 73 on the respective lower ends of the abutment members 72 and having the axes thereof parallel to each other and normal to the axes of the associated abutment member 72. The hanger 4i) finally includes a pair of rings 74 on the forward ends of the respective arms 73, the planes of the rings 74 extending parallel to one another and normal to the base 51, the rings 74 having respective openings 75 therein aligned with one another. The rings 74 may be used, for example, to independently hang articies thereon or to receive a support rod therethrougli in which case the support rod is usable to support an article. A unitary rod is bent to form the hinge rod 71, the abutment members 72, the arms 73 and the rings 74. In an operating position of the hanger 70 the abutment members 72 bear against the front surface 52 of the base 51 to limit the downward movement of the arms 74 to cause the arms 73 to extend forwardly. In this position, the hanger 70 is adapted to support an article thereon. The hinge rod 71 is pivotable with respect to the hinge member 60 to permit upward pivoting of the arms 73 to a storage position wherein the arms 73 extend approximately parallel to the base 51.

While there has been described what are at present considered to be certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein.

What is claimed is:

1. An article support construction for use on an upstanding apertured panel having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, said article support construction comprising a base having substantially flat front and rear surfaces, a plurality of mounting prongs each including a rearwardly extending first finger .on the upper edge or said base and an upwardly extending second finger on the rear end of said first finger and disposed approximately normal thereto, each of said mounting prongs being spaced from an adjacent mounting prong by a distance equal to the distance between two holes in the apertured panel in a row, a plurality .of stabilizing prongs on the lower edge of said base and vertically aligned with associated first fingers and spaced therefrom by a distance equal to the distance between two holes in the apertured panel in a vertical column, a hinge member having a bearing thereon extending generally horizontally in use, means connecting said hinge member to the front surface of said base lying wholly forward of said front surface, and a hanger including a hinge rod pivotally supported by said bearing, a pair of elongated abutment members depending in use downwardly the respective ends of said hinge rod, the axes of said abutment members being disposed parallel to each other and normal to the axis of said hinge rod, and a pair of forwardly directed arms on the respective lower ends of said abutment members, the axes of said arms being parallel to each other and normal to the axis of the associated abutment member, said abutment members bearing against the front surface of said base to limit the downward movement of said arms, said hinge rod being pivotable with respect to said hinge member to permit upward pivoting of said arms, the rear surface or" said base bearing in use against the front surface of the apertured panel, said mounting prongs and said stabilizing prongs being the only rearward projections from said rear surface of said base, said first fingers having lengths approximately equal to the thickness of the apertured panel and engaging in use in associated holes in the apertured panel to support said base thereon, said second finger bearing in use against the rear surface of the apertured panel, thereby to mount said hanger on the apertured panel in cantilever fashion, said stabilizing prongs engaging in use in associated holes in the apertured panel, to orient and provide additional support for the mounted article support construction.

2. The article support construction set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a pair of upwardly and forwardly directed retaining members on the forward ends of the respective arms.

3. The article support construction set forth in claim 2, wherein a unitary rod is bent to form said hinge rod, said abutment members, said arms, and said retaining members.

4. An article support construction for use on an upstanding apertured panel having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, said article support construction comprising a base having substantially flat front and rear surfaces, a plurality of mounting prongs each including a rearwardly extending first finger on the upper edge of said base and an upwardly extending second finger on the rear end of said first finger and disposed approximately normal thereto, each of said mounting prongs being spaced from an adjacent mounting prong by a distance equal to the distance between two holes in the apertured panel in a row, a hinge member having a bearing thereon extending generally horizontally in use, means connecting said hinge member to the front surface of said base lying wholly forward of said front surface, and a hanger including a hinge rod pivotally supported by said bearing, a pair of elongated abutment members depending in use downwardly the respective ends of said hinge rod, and a pair of forwardly directed arms on the respective lower ends of said abutment members having a pair of parallel rings on the forward ends of the respective arms, said rings having respective openings therein aligned with one another, said abutment members bearing against the front surface of said base to limit the downward movement of said arms, said hinge rod being pivotable with respect to said hinge member to permit upward pivoting of said arms, the rear surface of said base bearing in use against the front surface of the apertured panel, said first fingers being the only rearward projections from the rear surface of said base and having lengths approximately equal to the thickness of the apertured panel and engaging in use in associated holes in the apertured panel to support said base thereon, said second finger bearing in use against the rear surface of the apertured panel, thereby to mount said hanger on the apertured panel in cantilever fashion.

5. The article support construction set forth in claim 4, wherein a unitary rod is bent to form said hinge rod, said abutment members, said arms, and said rings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,408 8/ 1936 Karst 211--106 X 2,913,210 11/1959 Tichnor 248223 3,289,994 12/1966 Burmeister 248225 3,297,290 1/ 1967 Patterson 248-223 EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

